The Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW (LGSA) are calling on all political parties to scrap Part 3A and end the State Government's 'reign' over the NSW planning system. The LGSA say a genuine test and independent commission for state significant developments is needed to restore the balance to land use planning.

President of the Local Government Association, Cr Keith Rhoades AFSM, said it is essential that the incoming State Government work in close consultation with Local Government to develop a more open and transparent planning system.  



"From Calderwood to Catherine Hill Bay, Coffs Harbour to the Barangaroo development and Royal Ryde Rehabilitation Centre in Sydney - communities across NSW are fed up with being ignored and dictated to about what's being built in their own backyard," said Cr Rhoades.

 


"All these communities are victims of a planning system that has lost its way," he said.

 

"The lack of transparency and wide ranging powers given to the Minister of Planning by Part 3A is unnecessary, damaging and - as acknowledged in a recent ICAC report - creates a perception, and potential, for undue influence and corruption.

 

"The recent Barangaroo debacle is a prime example - the State Government is even ignoring their own rules about contaminated sites to push things through.

 

"Councils accept there are developments of state significance which are best dealt with by the State Government - but these are things that are on the scale of Olympic Park, ports, major public transport and road infrastructure, not high rise residential developments or a 50-lot subdivision.

 

"The best path of action is to develop, with councils, a genuine test for state significant developments, as well as establishing an independent planning commission for these projects, with Cabinet to determine applications for cases where the Minister rejects the commission's advice.


Cr Rhoades said the LGSA welcomes the recognition by the Coalition and the Greens, of the importance of "returning local planning decisions to local communities."


"The Coalition's proposition to return planning powers to local communities is great news for councils, but we all know the devil is in the detail - and we need to see that detail," said Cr Rhoades.


"We demand a swift re-write and return of planning powers, and we want to see the comprehensive plans and timetable, particularly in reference to the scrapping of Part 3A."